Delivery of Theme
TelstraClear Pacific is a multi purpose events centre in Manukau City. It embraces and showcases excellence within culture, art, entertainment, sport leisure and the business interests of the culturally diverse population of Manukau City. It is a living expression of Pacific arts and culture attracting national and international visitors.
The central purpose and role of TelstraClear Pacific has been defined as:
“A multi purpose events centre, for all the people of Manukau – promoting art, culture, business and leisure, to celebrate our excellence and diversity.”
TelstraClear Pacific has two main venues: the Sir Woolf Fisher Arena and the Genesis Energy Theatre, which are capable of hosting the following events:
- Exhibitions, Trade Shows and Conferences
- Concerts
- Community events
- Banquets
- Performing arts – dance, theatre, music.
- Indoor Sports
TelstraClear Pacific is much more than just an Events Centre. It represents the important themes of a diverse, young, exciting and prosperous nation.
The philosophical framework for TelstraClear Pacific is achieved by expressing a consistent theme via three main disciplines;
- Architecture
- Art
- Landscape
THE THEME
“The Coming Together As One”
The theme is a result of the journey taken by all who arrive in Manukau and gather together to celebrate our achievements and diversity.
- Passage – stories of our journeys
- Arrival – displaying our achievements and diversity
- Gathering – celebrate and appreciate our successes
| Ka Ho Te Kupenga | Gathering in the net |
| Kai kotahi tatou | Embracing the people of the land |
| Nga iwi o Aotearoa | Of the Long White Cloud Together as one |
Our architecture incorporates many features that encapsulate our theme.
- Entrance and Plaza – the entrance is beside water representing the journey across the seas to Aotearoa. The plaza is the arrival point before entering the Events Centre for the gatherings.
- The Events Centre – the building has been designed as an iconic facility utilising a combination of traditional Maori and Polynesian approaches to building, expressed in a contemporary manner. The exterior truss symbolises the Waka and the internal ceiling creates a lattice effect representing a net, “embracing as one” all those that gather within.
To complete the overall theme it is essential that artworks be embraced throughout the facility. This reinforces a sense of belonging, ownership and communality thus allowing occupants to feel “at home” and to “showcase excellence”.
A number of themes have been developed during the design of the project that provide fertile ground for the inclusion of artwork. These include traditional Maori and Polynesian approaches to building, already clearly expressed in the building and the themes of passage, arrival and gathering.
It is appropriate that the people of Manukau are asked to tell their stories and that these stories are coordinated into a “philosophical framework” to guide artists in developing their artform.
Our consistent theme is culturally relevant, and in implementing the theme, a sense of ownership, belonging and communality develops.
The locations for significant artworks have been identified. Each location presents an opportunity and has been assigned a brief that acknowledges the overall theme.
